Our History
The major foundation of what has become Chrisland University (the University arm of Chrisland Schools Limited) today was laid over forty years ago by seasoned Educationist and Administrator, High Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Winifred Awosika, OON, has a vision of imparting the educational sector positively, the institution opened its doors with only seven students. High Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Winifred Awosika, OON had always nurtured the dreams of establishing new educational levels every ten years with a vision to be at the forefront of private education in Nigeria, and have a leadership position from kindergarten to tertiary level. Her dreams were brought to life when she established the Nursery section which she started by educating not more than seven pupils in her kitchen. She however got more pupils and there was a need for expansion. In another ten years, she established the Secondary School section, and the Pre-degree College after ten years, and these sections have grown into a large citadel of learning. Chrisland Schools which was founded in 1977 remains the largest privately owned educational institution in Nigeria.
There was a slight delay as the University arm could not be established after the ten years just as the founder planned. But the dream came alive on September 17, 2015, and the University was granted a full operational license to operate as a private university in Nigeria, in the year 2019 by the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s National Universities Commission.
The University commenced with two Colleges- the College of Arts, Management, and Social Sciences, and the College of Natural and Applied Sciences. The College of Basic Medical Sciences became the third college in 2019, while the College of Law received NUC Accreditation in 2022. The former Vice-Chancellor of the Institution, Prof. Mrs. Chinedum Peace Babalola, FAS, championed full accreditation of nine (9) programmes (Business Administration, Economics, Accounting, Criminology & Security Studies, Psychology, Computer Science, Political Science, Microbiology and Biochemistry) presented for the 2018 NUC Accreditation. Three programmes (Mass Communication, Banking and Finance, and International Relations) which were presented for NUC accreditation in 2021 got full accreditation also in 2021.
The University commenced academic activities on 17th September 2015 with seven pioneer students admitted into two colleges viz:
- College of Arts, Management and Social Sciences
- College of Natural and Applied Sciences
By 2019, when it graduated the first set of Bachelor of Science degree holders in its name, enrolment included students taking Accounting, Criminology and Security Studies, Psychology, and Computer Science. The maiden convocation ceremony took place on 1st November 2019, and the former Governor of Anambra State and business magnate, Peter Obi was the Guest Speaker, while the eminent Professor, Prof. Peter Okebukola was the Convocation Lecturer. The occasion was chaired by Emeritus Professor Nimi Briggs. Miss. Lauretta Onemu from the Psychology Department emerged as the overall best graduating student with a CGPA of 5.00.
The second Convocation Ceremony on November 26, 2020 marked the 5th Anniversary of the Institution. The Guest Speaker who gave the convocation lecture, Her Excellency, Prof. Mrs. Sarah Anyang Agbor, the Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, African Union Commission, spoke extensively on a reflective perspective of leadership, sustainable growth, and national building in Africa. The former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was the Chairman of the ceremony. The University graduated 28 students during the second Convocation Ceremony as Miss. Folashade Kikelomo Mary from Biochemistry emerged the overall best graduating student with a CGPA of 4.80.
During the third Convocation Ceremony in 2021 which marked the 6th Anniversary of the Institution, Miss Kave Martha Iveren from the Department of Criminology and Security Studies emerged the Overall Best Graduating Student. The Convocation Ceremony featured recognition and celebration of the life of a Nigerian Amazon, Late Pastor Mrs. AIG-Imokhuede who was a member of the Board of Trustees of the University. The ceremony also featured cutting of the tape of the female hostel named after her in memory of her contributions to the institution immediately after the convocation lecture on Wednesday, 8th December, 2021.
The former Vice-Chancellor of Chrisland University, Prof. Mrs. Chinedum Peace Babalola, FAS, is a Nigerian Professor of Pharmaceutical chemistry and Pharmacokinetics.
Being one of the private Universities in Nigeria, Chrisland University has continued to envision becoming a world class University, renowned for intellectual freedom, ethical standards, research, community service and the outstanding training of a new generation of leaders. Chrisland University now has Part-Time programmes which took off in 2021, including Certification and Diploma Programme in Criminology and Security Studies. Chrisland University is also an accredited center for Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), and Joint Universities Preliminary Board (JUPEB) examinations. In 2021, College of Basic Medical Science was established and the College houses departments such as Physiotherapy, Public Health and Medical Laboratory Science while in 2022, the College of Law was verified by National Universities Commission (NUC). Presently, the University runs four Colleges and one Faculty which are;
- College of Arts, Management and Social Sciences
- College of Basic Medical Sciences
- College of Natural and Applied Sciences
- College of Law
- Faculty of Nursing Sciences
The incumbent Vice Chancellor Professor Oyeduuni Sola Arulogun assumed office on the first of November 2024 and immediately began to record major achievements for the University one of which is the successful accreditation of her postgraduate programme.
